Most often, tinnitus is linked to hearing loss or other ear conditions. It’s rarely a sign of a serious condition.
Many people get tinnitus for a short time – for example, after being exposed to loud music, or when they have congestion because of a cold. For some people, it doesn’t go away.
Tinnitus and stress
Stress can be a trigger for tinnitus or make it worse.
Some people find that when they feel stressed and anxious, their tinnitus seems louder or more noticeable.
This means you may experience a vicious cycle: stress can make tinnitus worse, which can lead to greater stress and anxiety.
There are therapies and techniques you can use to help break this cycle. Read more about managing tinnitus and stress.
Tinnitus and hearing loss
Many people with tinnitus also have hearing loss.
Research has shown that changes to your hearing can change the activity in parts of your brain. The brain may “fill in the gaps” of the sounds that are expected to come from the ear, creating the sensation of tinnitus.
Learn more about RNID’s research into tinnitus.
If you have hearing loss, you may be more aware of tinnitus. This is because you won’t hear as many environmental sounds that could otherwise help distract you from it. In this case, using hearing aids or cochlear implants may help with both hearing loss and tinnitus.
If you think you may have hearing loss, you can take our free online Hearing Check.
Ear conditions
The ear is made up of lots of different parts, and a change in how these parts work can sometimes cause tinnitus.
This could be a temporary change, such as:
- a blockage caused by ear wax
- a perforated (torn or burst) eardrum
- an ear infection
It could also be a permanent condition, such as:
- otosclerosis, a condition that affects the middle ear
- Ménière’s disease, a condition that affects the inner ear
- neurological disorders including acoustic neuroma, a non-cancerous growth that affects the hearing nerve
Read more about ear conditions.
Loud noise
A common cause of both hearing loss and tinnitus is loud noise. The risk depends on:
- how loud the sound is
- how long you’re exposed to it
It’s common to have ringing in your ears after exposure to loud noise. Often the tinnitus goes away within a few days, but it’s a warning sign that the noise was loud enough to damage your hearing.
Read more about what level of noise is a risk to your hearing.
Tinnitus and other medical conditions
Sometimes, but uncommonly, tinnitus can be linked to other medical conditions, such as:
- head or neck injuries
- cardiovascular disorders, especially high blood pressure
- metabolic disorders, including hypothyroidism and diabetes
- certain medications that are used to treat serious illnesses such as cancer
For some people, there’s no clear cause of their tinnitus.